LIRR, Metro-North concessions going up?

April 30, 2008 2:17:56 PM PDT

Eyewitness News

NEW YORK --

Riders on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North could soon be seeing higher prices for concessions. The Long Island committee of the MTA Board voted Wednesday to raise the prices of alcohol, soda and snacks on both systems by about 25 percent starting May 8.

The Metro-North committee and full MTA Board are scheduled to vote on the hikes next week.

On the LIRR, domestic beers would increase to $2.25, up a quarter, and imported beer from $2.50 to $3.

Top-shelf liquor would go from $4.25 to $5.50, while house spirits would jump from $4 to $5.25. A glass of wine would increase from $3 to $3.50.

Soda and water would increase from $1.25 to $1.50 and peanuts from $.75 to $1.

An LIRR spokesman says the railroad hasn't raised beer prices in four years. There has been no across-the-board price increases since 1996.

He says the price increase would help offset higher labor and product costs. He says the increase is also in line with prices charged at Penn Station.

The LIRR says the railroad grossed $2.5 million in sales from its concessions last year.